From 1st January 2018, annual SSAS test is to be done through the use of an electronic platform for supply and operation of the Ship Identification and Monitoring System, provided by PMA.

CSO have to request access toplatformand their access credentials by email to info@panama-ssas.com from 30th November 2017.

One annual SSAS TEST is mandatory. In case of vessels that perform more than one test and require a flag confirmation they should not schedule it through the platform, in thosecasesthey have to use the SSAS TEST message information and send an email directly to threat@amp.gob.pa using ASCII, UTF-8 or ANSI encodings.

In cases where the SSAS TEST cannot be carried out; same must be notified by email to info@panama-ssas.com 24 hours in advance, the reasons and the new date of programming through the platform.

In cases where the SSAS TEST cannot be performed due to technical problems of the equipment, it should be communicated to the email: info@panama-ssas.com

Non compliancewith above regulations may result in

Invalidation of the International Ship Security Certificate (ISSC).

Additional audits of the ISPS Code

Security drill is to be conducted once in every three months and must test the proficiency of vessel personnel in assigned security duties at all maritime security levels including the effective implementation of the Ship Security Plan (SSP).

Security exercise with shore must be carried out at least once each calendar year with no more than 18 months between exercises

Records of confirmation message of the annual SSAS test, drills and exercises are to be retained onboard in paper or electronic format; for period of time as specified in Ship Security Plan (SSP) or as per internal procedure of the company or for a time equivalent to duration of theinternationalShip Security Certificate (5 years).

A copy of radio technician’s report demonstrating compliance with relevant requirements of SOLAS 74, Ch. XI-2 will be verified by Recognized Security Organization (RSO) at next scheduled ISPS audit.

At subsequent ISPS verification, the RSO will examine the records of activities on the SSAS equipment, as specified in the ISPS Code A/10.1.10, witness a complete security alert test andverifyingthe operational requirements and in the case of a SSAS

Ship owners/operators and masters are advised to be guided by above and are requested to verify that the SSAS equipmenthavebeen correctly set-up and is working properly.

This Technical Circular and the material contained in it is provided only for the purpose of supplying current information to the reader and not as an advice to be relied upon by any person. While we have taken utmost care to be as factual as possible, readers/ users are advised to verify the exact text and content of the Regulation from the original source/ issuing Authority.